Govt passes National Medical Commission bill amid huge protest by doctors

Unmindful to the wide-scale angry protests by doctors threatening to disrupt medical services across the country, the Modi government on Thursday passed the controversial bill in the Rajya Sabha to set up National Medical Commission (NMC) by repealing the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

The move comes in the wake of allegations of corruption against the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) that regulate all aspects of medical education, profession and institutions in India.

Dubbing it as one of the biggest reforms, the government argued that the new Act will ensure availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals, adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals, periodic assessment of medical institutions and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

However, the opposition raised several objections and even described it as 'Omission' bill — a blatant effort to corporatise the pious profession and celebrate "quackery".

Trinamool Congress member Santanu Sen, who is the national president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), the foremost body of doctors, put up strong opposition.

"The elected representatives, who are doctors, and the search committee that will appoint the National Medical Association will all be central government employees. It is unlikely that a central government employee, even if he is a doctor, will go against the government's will," he said.

Raising the spectre of capitation fee, Sen argued 70% of seats in private colleges are currently regulated by the central or state governments but the bill gives private institutions completely free reign on 50% of the seats, and even in the remaining 50% the government will only review the criteria of selection etc. "Does this mean you are leaving all 100% seats in private colleges free to be sold off?" he asked.

The bill also came under attack from parties for taking away the rights of the states.